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Federation of Bangladesh Customs Clearing & Forwarding Agents Association has threatened to go on a strike in the country on January 30 and 31 if the revenue board does not amend relevant licensing rules by January 28.
The association placed its demand in a letter sent to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) recently. Chattogram Customs Agents Association also put the same demand.
“The federation has repeatedly urged the revenue administration to amend some necessary rules after framing the C&F Agents Licensing Rules-2016, but the board did not take them into consideration,” the letter reads.
Even during the formulation of the Customs Agent Licensing Rules-2020, the NBR did not discuss the issue of amendment with the federation leaders, it added.
The association claims that it proposed amending some rules and sub-rules of the licensing rules during the budget for FY23 as these rules violate the basic rights of all customs clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents in the country.
However, the authority concerned did not make these amendments, placed by the association, to the budget proposal.
The association also proposed withdrawing non-renewal of licensing rules from two rules. Referring to Rule 13(c) of Licensing Rules 2016 and Rules 19(c) and (d) of Licensing Rules-2020, the association states that the verification of educational qualification under the rules shall be relaxed in case of transfer of licence in favour of a legitimate successor.
It also urged the authority to take viva test to verify the eligibility by the licensing authority of the customs house/station concerned in line with transfer of licence to legal successor.
Besides, it is proposed to refer to Rule 23(4) of the Licensing Rules-2020 regarding cancellation of reference licence, not to cancel the reference licence if the original licence is cancelled.
The amendment proposal further includes that the authority concerned does not raise allegation of false declaration against C&F agents, if physical examination is not done during import and export consignments’ clearance or administration finds non-declared goods in any consignment during first physical inspection.
Instead, the allegation should be raised only on the importers and shipping agents and the authority should penalize them for making false declarations, the association added.
In order to ensure smooth revenue collection, the association has urged the NBR to organise a joint meeting soon to fulfill these demands through discussion.
Earlier on June 7 last year, the association went on a nationwide strike to press home their demands.
